What is that at the top of the screen counting down that says "Ryan at Springer Mtn?"

I happen to have a couple of theories about this...

Theory #1

Over the last 3 and a half months, Atlas Quest, and in fact most of the known Internet, has been secretly replaced by a more advanced yet insidious technology. This technology is based on the little known fact that certain Himalayan bovines are inexplicably yet strongly attracted to certain species of crustaceans, despite the fact that neither can live in the other's environment. In fact, it is this very dichotomy which propels the data at nearly the speed-of-love (299,792,460 meters/second). This technlogy is known as a Reciprocating Yak/Arthropod Network, or RYAN.

Wait, it gets better.

Unfortunately, there has recently been uncovered a fatal flaw in the technology. It turns out, data travels MUCH faster downhill than it does uphill, and in fact, at some of the higher peaks in the US, the data just doesn't have the "oomph" to make it all the way to the top. This data degradation has seriously impeded work at certain Observatories and Ranger Stations, as well as put the Yaks into a bit of a funk. Fortunately an intrepid group of Brilliant Physicists, Outstanding Zoologists, and Addled Letterboxers has banded together and come up with a work-around to this otherwise nefarious pitfall.

They have secretly placed a series of Springs on the backs of selected especially-comely crustaceans. As the data comes barreling downhill at break-carapace speeds, it will now be deflected off these particular Arthropods (known affectionately as "Springers"), and go careening back up the slopes of the mountains, unfettered by the negative effects of gravity. This means that the AstroPhysicists at the Observatories can now get the latest in plantary and interstellar data for their important studies, and the Ranger Stations will once again flourish and thrive with the newest Lindsay Lohan clips from Youtube.

This technology will go live on April 16th, thus the RYAN at Springer Mountain countdown.

Theory #2

On April 16th, Ryan (Green Tortuga) is expected to complete his 3 and a half month trek from the southernmost tip of Florida to Springer Mountain, Georgia. As an aside, this momentous occasion also signals the time when I will be released from my Indentured Servitude as Webmaster Pro Tem. The world, or at lease the affected letterboxers, shall rejoice!

-wassamatta_u

I vote for theory #1....

plus, I think that Ryan's first day back should be greeted by him waking up in the morning the exact same way that we were woken up on January first....

night writer

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I think that Ryan's first day back should be greeted by him waking up in the morning the exact same way that we were woken up on January first....

My cat should jump on his stomach????

It turns out, data travels MUCH faster downhill than it does uphill, and in fact, at some of the higher peaks in the US, the data just doesn't have the "oomph" to make it all the way to the top. This data degradation has seriously impeded work at certain Observatories and Ranger Stations, as well as put the Yaks into a bit of a funk.

Those poor Yaks are in a funk because of that difference in data speed. Even though the crustaceans return the interest (with interest, so to speak), the signal just doesn't make the return trip. Unrequited bovine love! You, wassa, of all people, should have sympathy for their plight.

This "springer" technology is just heartless... does PETA know about this??

You must have missed New Year's Day here at Wassa Quest...

Hey, Wassa, maybe we could rerun Wassa Quest for old times sake. Gotta love the moose.

Knit Wit

Wassa, Wassa, "shakin' head"

Bless your heart (and your wifes). Once, again, you have saved us from our selves by explaining the mysteries of biophysolosicy (a high level of science in which biology and physics are combined). You have truly been blessed with wisdom of the ages (aged?)

Zinni

I t is welll known that NASA frequently awakens sleeping astronauts with blaring heavy-metal rock music. Given his level of coolness, don't you think Ryan should have to listen to Neil Diamond or the Monkees atop Springer Mtn.?

Grumpy Grinch

..........and we wonder why Wassa's not in charge all the time. ;)

A son of liberty
(Cornwallis)

..........and we wonder why Wassa's not in charge all the time.

Don't worry... my Fearsome Abominable Reign of Terror is drawing to a close, and AQers can take comfort in the fact that they no longer have to worry about my Fearsome Abominable Reign of Terror. Hmmm... that is a lot to type... maybe I should use an acronym. Or maybe not.
-wassamatta_u

Mega LOL's. I don't know about everybody else but I've enjoyed it......Hey Ryan!!! Take a hike!!

A son of liberty

maybe I should use an acronym. Or maybe not.

Maybe not wassa. Your reign did not smell that bad anyway.

my Fearsome Abominable Reign of Terror is drawing to a close

::dons a gas mask and hides on another board::

:ox
3H

Oh, Wass, You stinker!

Zinni

Fearsome Abominable Reign of Terror. Hmmm... that is a lot to type... maybe I should use an acronym. Or maybe not.

Hey there are the HazMat suits that NatureCrew and Ma Pickle had today at the Trail's End .............

Holly

i can see the AQMoose in them now

Is the "moose suit" with antler covers special order?

Zinni

they no longer have to worry about my Fearsome Abominable Reign of Terror. Hmmm... that is a lot to type... maybe I should use an acronym.

At work, I am a member of the Fatal Accident Response Team. We decided against having patches made for our uniforms.

J--

I am a member of the Fatal Accident Response Team. We decided against having patches made for our uniforms.

Oh, come on. It might lighten things up a bit!

Flour Girl

We will be auctioning those off as well as his trail end hiking shoes to support his Pacific Rim walk. Stay tuned for details.
Favored Assitant of Ryan's Trek

We will be auctioning those off as well as his trail end hiking shoes to support his Pacific Rim walk.

Really, I think it's kind of amusing to auction off ratty old stuff that really should go in the trash, but please don't give the money to me. I kind of feel like it's just taking advantage of people. If you don't want it yourself, give it to a charity or something. I don't want people thinking I've been giving away my old shoes just to make money for myself. I could always auction the stuff off myself if I wanted to do that. Auction it off for fun, then use the money to pay for a letterbox gathering or something. Now THAT'S a worth-while cause. =)

-- Ryan

If you don't want it yourself, give it to a charity or something.

It seems like the FL Trail Association could use it... hahaha!
*S

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At work, I am a member of the Fatal Accident Response Team.

I graduated from Florida Technological University in Orlando, FL (intentionally quite near Cape Canaveral) in 1978, the very same day they announced they would be changing the name of the school to the University of Central Florida to reflect the fact that they were giving up on being a top-notch science and engineering school along the lines of MIT and GT and changing their focus to being a mediocre general studies state university. The new name was decided upon after they had rejected Florida University at Cape Kennedy and Sam Houston Institute of Technology.

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The new name was decided upon after they had rejected Florida University at Cape Kennedy and Sam Houston Institute of Technology.

Well, at least George Carlin would be proud that they got 2 of his 7 words...

pre

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The new name was decided upon after they had rejected Florida University at Cape Kennedy and Sam Houston Institute of Technology.

ROFLOL

I am just glad they thought about the acronyms first... Though they might have had interesting logos...

Knit Wit
*gee, thanks, Kirbert, my sides hurt now*

Really, I think it's kind of amusing to auction off ratty old stuff that really should go in the trash, but please don't give the money to me. I kind of feel like it's just taking advantage of people. If you don't want it yourself, give it to a charity or something. I don't want people thinking I've been giving away my old shoes just to make money for myself. I could always auction the stuff off myself if I wanted to do that. Auction it off for fun, then use the money to pay for a letterbox gathering or something. Now THAT'S a worth-while cause. =)
~Ryan


OH ME OH ME!!!!!!! I'm a worthy cause! I'll take the dough.........LOL!!!!!!
Favoritest Associate to Ryan's Toes

Well, at least George Carlin would be proud that they got 2 of his 7 words...

LMAO! That's my favorite schtick of his! :o)

3H

Columbus Ohio (Franklin county) has a private university:
Franklin University

really.

I went to Kent State University...I have t-shirts and swetshirts with "KSU" on them...I'm glad I did not go to Franklin University. ;)

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I think it's kind of amusing to auction off ratty old stuff that really should go in the trash, but please don't give the money to me.

I think any monies should go to the Florida Trail Association so that they can work on eliminating those road walks and making more accurate signage! :-)

-amanda from seattle

I think any monies should go to the Florida Trail Association

You know, I really like that idea. Before I started the Florida Trail, I thought it might be neat to raise money for the trails that allowed my hike to happen. I met a couple of people on the AT who were raising money for charities, and it seemed like if I were going to hike, I could raise money at the same time.

I actually e-mailed the FTA about the best way about going about such a thing or if they had any suggestions about how to go about doing so, and I got a reply from one of them saying they'd never heard of someone raising money for the trail that made their hike possible but thought it was a wonderful idea and would forward my message on to someone who knew more about the financial side of things. (This person was more of the trail expert rather than a money expert.)

I never got a response from whomever my message was forwarded to, though, and frankly, I was too lazy to pursue them and beat them over the head to take a bunch of money. Doesn't seem like it should be work to get them to take money. =) Raising money might be work, but to get them to take it? So that whole idea ended up falling through. *shrug*

Instead, I figured I could use my blog to raise awareness of the trail and perhaps inspire some folks to get out there and become more active members in their own local trail organizations. (The Washington Trails Association is pretty darned good, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association seems to have their act together pretty good as well.)

In any case, I think donating the proceeds to the Florida Trail Association would be a wonderful idea. =) Assuming you can find someone there who will actually take the money. ;o)

-- Ryan

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I think donating the proceeds to the Florida Trail Association would be a wonderful idea. =) Assuming you can find someone there who will actually take the money. ;o)

How about just buying their maps? You can't get a decent map of the FT without paying for it, which indicates to me that they're trying to support the trail by selling maps.

Hey, if you've got no use for the maps, you could send one to me. I'm not a hiker so I'm disinclined to pay for a FT map. It'd be handy to have one, though, since I plant boxes along the FT quite often.